Hero - Interior Page Hero Module
Listicle View
Chetola Resort
Guides from this outdoors-focused resort’s Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge lead clinics as well as floating and wading fishing expeditions in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fish at the resort or on nearby streams, and allow the experts to help you perfect your cast and fill your creel.
New River
In the eastern portion of the state, the New River cuts a short course to the sea. Anglers reel in large and smallmouth bass, flounder, red and black drum, and speckled trout. The wide, slow-moving river is perfect for a paddle, a day of fishing or both.
Badin Lake Recreation Area
Whether you fish, paddle, hike or just hang out, Badin Lake has you covered. Nestled on the edge of the Uwharrie National Forest, this 5,000-acre lake gives you the chance to fish from the bank or launch a kayak, canoe or powerboat to reach deeper waters and secluded fishing holes.
Lake Hickory
More than 100 miles of shoreline offer plenty of options when it comes to wetting a line. Cruising the 4,200-acre lake in a bass boat also leads to exceptional fishing. Hook a channel or flathead catfish, a largemouth bass or the lake’s coveted striped bass.
Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail
In the Great Smoky Mountains and Nantahala National Forest, hundreds of miles of trout streams make up this trail. Catch rainbow, brown and brook trout on every mile of these pristine waters. Hike into Panthertown Valley for backcountry fishing, cast a line in downtown Dillsboro or go for a record on Cherokee Trophy Waters.
Prime spots on the WNC Fly Fishing Trail
The Adventure Kayak Company
Float through winding marsh creeks and otherworldly blackwater rivers near Southport and Oak Island. Nesting and wading birds frequent the marshes, and on blackwater rivers you might spot alligators, woodpeckers and coves filled with water lilies. Don’t forget your camera, but be sure to soak up screen-free nature time as well.
Tar-Pamlico River Water Trail
Discover the Inner Banks via sea kayak and face whitewater in inland headwaters. With 200+ miles of river and sound to explore, you’ll want to spend a night or two on screened-in camping platforms as you head downstream. Paddle through Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Greenville and Washington along the way.
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
Eight entry points encircle the 50,000-acre reservoir at the heart of Henderson’s Kerr Lake State Recreation Area. Visit the marina at Hibernia Access to rent a paddleboard or kayak, then row to Satterwhite Point to watch ospreys dive for fish.
Merchants Millpond State Park
Coating old-growth cypress trees, fingerlike tendrils of lacy Spanish moss fracture beams of sunlight at Merchants Millpond State Park. Rent a canoe to navigate waterways snaking through the protected area, keeping watch for the gnarled backs of occasional alligators.
Mayo Lake
Near the state’s northern border, start your day in a canoe on Mayo Lake, fishing for bass and watching the rising sun cast reflections across the water’s surface.
Find more inspiring places to be on the water in The Official 2026 North Carolina Travel Guide. And visit Outdoor NC for tips on how to connect with nature and help preserve the natural beauty of our state.